Police Brutality and Its Impact: A Mother's Struggle for Justice

 

पुलिसवालों ने सिगरेट जलाकर मेरे आठ वर्षीय बेटे के हाथ में जलते हुए पूछा, "बताओ अब्बा कहां हैं?"

मेरा नाम समिदा खातून है। मेरी उम्र 35 वर्ष है। मेरे पति का नाम मोहम्मद नसीम है। मुझे दो बच्चे हैं—एक बेटा और एक बेटी। मैं अबरख चुनकर अपना जीवनयापन करती थी। मैं ग्राम समसिहरिया, पोस्ट-ढोढाकोला, थाना-डोमचांच, जिला-कोडरमा, झारखंड की निवासी हूं।

मुझे यह नहीं पता था कि अबरख का काम बंद हो जाने के कारण हमें दो वक्त की रोटी भी नसीब नहीं होगी। हमारे पास कोई रोजगार नहीं था। हम अबरख चुनकर लाते और उसी से परिवार का पेट पालते थे, लेकिन पुलिस की कार्रवाई ने हमें और मेरे बच्चों को भूखा रहने पर मजबूर कर दिया है। जब कहीं काम मिलता है, तो अनाज मिल जाता है, और थोड़ा सहारा हो जाता है। नहीं तो हमें अनाज लाने के लिए मायके जाना पड़ता है। मेरे पति कोई काम नहीं करते हैं, बेरोज़गारी के कारण बच्चों की पढ़ाई भी छूट गई है। इन तमाम तकलीफों के बीच हमारा जीवन गुजर रहा था।

तभी मेरे पति का किसी आदमी से किसी बात पर झगड़ा हो गया, और उस आदमी ने मेरे पति के खिलाफ केस दर्ज कर दिया। मैं इन सब घटनाओं से अनजान थी। 11 फरवरी की रात को डोमचांच पुलिस की गाड़ी मेरे घर आई। थाना प्रभारी ने बिना दरवाजा खटखटाए दरवाजा गिरा दिया। उस वक्त घर में मैं और मेरे बच्चे थे। दरवाजा गिरने से मैं डर गई। तभी थाना प्रभारी अब्दुल्ला खान ने हमें पीछे से पकड़कर दबोच लिया।

मैं अपने आप को छुड़ाने की कोशिश करने लगी, लेकिन उन्हें मुझसे बचने का कोई रास्ता नहीं मिला। थाना प्रभारी मेरे साथ छेड़छाड़ करते हुए मेरी छाती को दबाने लगे। मैंने उनसे कहा, "साहब, मुझे छोड़ दीजिए, आप क्या कर रहे हैं?" उन्होंने कहा, "तुम्हारे पति कहां हैं?" मैंने बताया, "वह घर पर नहीं हैं।" इसके बाद वह उनका मोबाइल नंबर मांगने लगे। मैंने पूछा, "साहब, क्या हुआ है?" लेकिन उन्होंने कुछ नहीं बताया।

पति को न पाकर वह हमें बिना कारण मारपीट करने लगे और मेरी बेटी को गोद में उठाकर घर से बाहर ले जाने लगे। बेटी को ले जाते देख मैं घबराई और उसे छुड़ाने के लिए गई, तो अब्दुल्ला खान ने मेरे पेट में जोर से एक लात मारी, जिससे मैं खाट पर गिर पड़ी। उन्होंने मेरी बेटी के साथ भी छेड़छाड़ की।

मेरा छोटा बेटा, जो महज 8 साल का था, पुलिसवालों ने सिगरेट पीकर उसके हाथ में जलाते हुए पूछा, "बताओ अब्बा कहां हैं?" सिगरेट से जलने के कारण वह रोने लगा, लेकिन वे निर्दयी लोग उसके दर्द को भी नहीं समझे। उस वक्त मुझे कुछ समझ में नहीं आ रहा था। बेटे की चीख-पुकार सुनकर जब मैं उसे बचाने दौड़ी, तो थाना प्रभारी ने मेरा कपड़ा फाड़ दिया और मैं अर्धनग्न हो गई।

हमें समझ में नहीं आ रहा था कि मेरे साथ क्या हो रहा है और पुलिस मेरे पति को क्यों खोज रही है। इस तरह पुलिस ने रात 12 बजे से लेकर 2 बजे तक हमारे घर में तांडव मचाया और मेरा नाक का नकचन तक नोच दिया। उस वक्त मैं पूरी तरह से बेबस थी। कुछ नहीं कर पा रही थी। पुलिस के डर से आस-पास से कोई मदद के लिए भी नहीं आया। पुलिसवालों ने जो मन में आया, किया।

सुबह जब हम गांववालों को सारी घटना बताई, तो वे हमें इलाज के लिए सदर अस्पताल, कोडरमा ले गए। वहां चार-पांच दिन तक मेरा इलाज चला। फिर मैं डिस्चार्ज होकर घर आई, लेकिन किसी सहारे के बिना मुझे मायके जाना पड़ा। वहां दो महीने तक मेरा इलाज चला, जिसके बाद मैं ठीक हो पाई।

इस घटना के बाद से मैं हर वक्त डर और दहशत में रहती हूं। मेरे बच्चे बार-बार पूछते हैं, "माँ, पुलिस दुबारा तो हमारे घर नहीं आएगी?" उनकी बातें सुनकर बहुत तकलीफ होती है। रात को नींद नहीं आती और शरीर में हर वक्त भारीपन सा महसूस होता है।

मैं चाहती हूं कि जिन पुलिसवालों ने बिना कारण हमें शारीरिक, मानसिक और आर्थिक प्रताड़ना दी है, उनके खिलाफ सख्त से सख्त कानूनी कार्रवाई हो, ताकि मुझे न्याय और सुरक्षा मिल सके।

"The police burned my eight-year-old son's hand with a cigarette and asked, 'Where is your father?'"

My name is Samida Khatoon, and I am 35 years old. My husband is Mohammad Naseem, and we have two children, one son and one daughter. I used to earn a living by collecting mica. I live in Samasiharia village, Post-Dhodakola, Thana-Domchanch, District-Kodarma, Jharkhand.

I never imagined that the closure of mica collection would deprive us of even two meals a day. We had no other source of livelihood. Collecting mica was our only income, and it was how we fed our family. But now, with the police cracking down on mica collection, my children and I have been left to starve. Whenever we manage to find some work, it provides us with only a small amount of food. Otherwise, we have to go to my parental home for food. My husband does not work, and due to unemployment, our children’s education has also stopped. This has been the harsh reality of our lives.

Then, my husband had a disagreement with someone, and that person filed a case against him. I was unaware of this. On the night of February 11, a police vehicle arrived at our home. Instead of knocking, the police broke down the door. At that time, only I and my children were inside. The door crashing down terrified me. The Station House Officer, Abdullah Khan, grabbed us from behind and restrained me forcefully.

I tried to free myself, but I couldn't. The Station House Officer started molesting me, pressing his hand on my chest. I pleaded with him, "Sir, please stop, what are you doing?" He replied, "Where is your husband?" I said, "He is not at home." Then he asked for my husband's phone number. I kept asking him, "Sir, what is happening?" but he remained silent.

Unable to find my husband, they began assaulting us without any reason. They even started dragging my daughter out of the house. When I saw this, I panicked and rushed to stop them. Abdullah Khan then kicked me hard in the stomach, causing me to fall onto the cot. They molested my daughter as well.

My young son, only eight years old, was burned with a cigarette on his hand by the police. They asked him, "Where is your father?" As the cigarette burned his hand, he cried in pain, but the police showed no mercy. I ran to save him, but the Station House Officer tore my clothes, leaving me half-naked.

I couldn’t understand what was happening or why the police were looking for my husband. From midnight to 2 AM, they wreaked havoc in our house, destroying everything in sight, even my nose pin. I felt completely helpless and unable to do anything. Out of fear, no one from the village came to our aid. The police did whatever they wanted.

The next morning, we told the villagers everything that had happened, and they took us to the Sadar Hospital in Kodarma for treatment. I was treated there for four to five days and then discharged. With no other support, I went to my parental home, where I was treated for two months before recovering.

Since the incident, I have been living in constant fear. My children repeatedly ask me, "Mom, will the police come again?" Hearing their questions breaks my heart. I cannot sleep at night, and I always feel a heaviness in my body.

I demand strict legal action against the police officers who subjected us to physical, mental, and economic abuse. I seek justice and protection.

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Analysis in Context of Indian Laws, Constitution, and UN Human Rights Standards:

The incident narrated by Samida Khatoon illustrates the systemic abuse of power and the violation of several basic human rights under both Indian law and international standards. This incident involves the abuse of authority by police officers who physically and sexually assaulted an individual, inflicted harm on a child, and subjected the family to mental and economic distress.

Violations of Indian Constitution and Laws:

1. Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21): The actions of the police officers directly violate the fundamental right to life and personal liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The physical violence, molestation, and harassment inflicted upon Samida Khatoon and her children demonstrate an egregious violation of their dignity and bodily integrity.

2. Right to Equality (Article 14): The discriminatory treatment by the police, particularly the violent actions taken against a marginalized family, violates the principle of equality before the law. No citizen should be treated with such brutality or be subjected to police violence based on their economic status or occupation.

3. Protection from Torture (Article 22): The police action constitutes torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, prohibited under Article 22 of the Indian Constitution. The assault on Samida Khatoon and her son, particularly the burning of her son's hand, exemplifies police brutality that has no justification under the law.

4. The Protection of Children (Indian Penal Code and Juvenile Justice Act): Burning an eight-year-old child with a cigarette constitutes child abuse and a grave violation of the provisions protecting children in India. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, and the Indian Penal Code would categorize these acts as forms of child abuse and exploitation, warranting immediate legal intervention.

International Human Rights Standards:

1. UN Convention Against Torture (CAT): India is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture, which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. The actions of the police in this case, particularly the physical and sexual violence inflicted on Samida and her daughter, violate India’s obligations under this international treaty.

2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Article 7 of the ICCPR prohibits torture and inhuman treatment, while Article 9 protects individuals against arbitrary arrest and detention. The actions of the police, which included forceful entry, unwarranted violence, and the harassment of a woman and her child, are clear violations of these rights.

3. UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998): As a human rights defender advocating for justice and dignity, Samida Khatoon’s case falls under the purview of the UN Declaration, which calls for protection against violence and reprisals for those standing up for their rights.

Analysis:

This case exemplifies how marginalized communities, particularly women and children, face systemic violence, often without any recourse to justice. The police, in this instance, not only abused their power but also exploited the vulnerability of a family already struggling due to economic deprivation. The lack of legal protection and the failure of authorities to intervene further highlight the gaps in the enforcement of both Indian laws and international human rights standards. The government must take immediate steps to hold accountable those responsible for this gross abuse, ensure that victims receive appropriate legal and medical support, and strengthen mechanisms to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

To ensure justice, a thorough investigation into the conduct of the officers involved is crucial, alongside providing Samida Khatoon and her children with the protection, compensation, and support they require. This case highlights the urgent need for reform in the police system to prevent the misuse of power and protect the fundamental rights of vulnerable citizens.